School districts are almost always bordering on going over budget and each year reports come out that more and more students will have to share textbooks, supplies, and be taught in overcrowded classrooms. There are not enough funds to support after school activities, music programs and art programs. Students are now missing out on learning how to play an instrument in band class, they are missing out on learning that they excel in football and they are missing out on learning the valuable lessons that these classes and activities teach.

Schools can do a number of activities to help earn extra money throughout the year such as bake sales, auctions, and carnival nights. But there is one event that has the ability to bring in large amounts of money but is rarely used because it is rather controversial. That event is the casino night. A casino night is when the school turns the gymnasium into a casino with fake (or rented) slot machines, blackjack tables, poker tables and all of the other fun you can expect to find in any real casino. Parents pay to attend and then pay again at each table typically winning tickets they can redeem for items such as DVDs, books, gift certificate and even some high end items like cameras, TVs and DVD players.

So, if these nights are so popular with parents, what is stopping more schools from creating these nights and why is it so controversial? Casino nights are considered an illicit activity and many people believe that these nights will cause a gambling crisis and promote gambling to our youth. Parents wonder why schools would even consider bringing something that is considered a sin by many into our schools and they actively speak out against these sorts of events. Unfortunately for schools and their students, parents are relying on misinformation and old fashioned beliefs to quash these casino nights and the schools chance to bring in money.

Casino nights don’t allow just anyone of any age to come in and gamble, even schools have to abide by state and federal laws and they do not allow their students to come in and gamble with cash. Adults have the experience and the knowledge about gambling that kids do not have, that allow them to decide what a good amount of money to spend is and when to stop playing the game. Statistics also show that cities that allow gambling, such as Council Bluffs in Iowa, do not have a higher than average gambling addiction problem. One night a year in a school setting will not encourage our students to go out and gamble, or get them and their parents addicted to the slot machines.

Our students are our future and all of us should be going out of our way to ensure that they are receiving a proper education that includes special activities, up-to-date school books and more. Gambling is just one way that school districts can help add to the book and desk fund and should always been an option.